Downers Grove Revisited part 4

I began racing for Grand Performance in 2003. For the first time ever I showed up to Downers racing with a team, and a great time at that. I now had 6 guys working for the 1 me. The goal for the day was to get into position to get me on the podium. Sure enough, I was delivered to the last lap after never having felt the wind all race. I found my way to the podium in 5th place again, proving that the year before was not a fluke.

'04 I missed the podium by 6 inches. '05 I flatted with 4 laps to go (that one still haunts me). '06 I played main lead-out for E-Rock and delivered him to a 4th place finish.

'07 was 50 degrees and rain. The race was crazy fast but rather safe. The crashes didn't start happening until 4 laps to go. On the last lap, sitting 5th wheel and 750 meters to go, this happened:

I hit the deck at 35 mph and found myself face down on someone's lawn.

- P

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Race Categories:

(From the newest member of the PureJenius.net staff (who, by the way, is paid >well So I've been perusing the MCF board tonight and I still can't believe how many guys are whining about the races and race categories that promoters choose for races. I'm pretty good at whining too, so here goes: I'm a 35+ Cat 3 woman who will show up for the St. Cloud Crit and have to toe the line with Cat 1/2 guys - I don't give a shit that they're 50+, their license still says Cat 1 or 2 (and 3/4/5) and they race like Cat 1/2s. What's that you say, it's a ROY race, so we'll be scored separately? Okay cool, then I'll completely overlook the fact that the race will blow apart on about lap 1.5 and I'll spend the remainder of the race with 3 or 4 other women if I'm lucky or I'll assume the time trial position and ride around in circles by myself. Should be fun. Oh, I should shut my trap because if I think the 50+ guys are too fast and furious, I s...

Good thing I'm racing 35+

No lie. - P

Slow

My low self esteem dates back to my early childhood. I grew up in a household where I was to be seen and not heard. I was told quite often that nothing in the house was mine because I did not pay for it. I was not allowed to have an opinion or challenge the patriarch and authority. This continued through to my adult life and continued to shape how I felt about myself. I wasn't ever going to be good enough. It weighs deep with me today. I have very low self worth and self esteem. I don't feel like I belong in social situations with people who, from my own perspective, are normal. If they only knew how fragile of a person I am, it would be game over for me. It shouldn't matter to me anymore as I have proven, to myself, that I came from behind to catch up with my peer group from an educational and professional standpoint. It still weighs on me, I feel like others look at me and think that I must not be that smart because I'm only an XYZ at my job and not an ABC. Of course...

pure jenius.

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